Track vehicle



H. LIECHTY TRACK VEHICLE Nov. 11, 1930.

Filed Sept. 15, 1927 m M /7W x y m 41 m f e m 9 j m J m 1 m m m C m m -L fl a 3 1B k Patented Nov. 11, 1930 UETED STATES PATENT OFFICE HERMANN LIECHTY, or BERN, swrrznnnnnn, Assienon To WILI-IELM ,KAUFMANN, or BERN, SWITZERLAND TRACK VEHICLE f Application filed September 15, 1927, Serial No. 219,736, and in Switzerland September 25, 1926.

It is a well known fact that in track-vehicles with 2 single-axle trucks the draw-bar, which conveys the drawing-power from the rail-motor-car or from the engine to the other 5 cars is attached either to the frame of the vehicle itself or to that of the truck.

In the present invention the draw-bar is not only used to convey the tractive power, but also for the positive radial adjustment of the truck. For this purpose the draw-bar is, on the one hand, attached to the main frame, while on the other hand it is so mounted on the truck that, during the swinging of the draw bar when running over acurved track,

the main-frame swings out towards the outer side of the curve whereby the wheel-axle is radially adjusted.

The object of the invention is, by means of this positive radial adjustment, to reduce the resistance while running over curved tracks and to lessen the wear of the rails and wheels. The drawing shows a diagrammatical plan for carrying the invention into eflect.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a truck in the position it assumes on a straight track.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the truck in a different position.

Fig. 3 in a distorted scale, affords a proof of the radial adjustment of the truck wheel-axle in all curves according to this application.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic section through a car showing the invention applied thereto,

The single axle trucks 0 are attached to the vehicle frame a by pivots b. The draw-bar f is pivoted to the frame a at e and is mounted for movement longitudinally in a gripper g non-slidably and pivotally connected to one of the frame members of the truck 0 whereby the latter as well as the draw-bar f may freely turn about their respective pivotal axes b and a, the movement of one, however, being transmitted to the other.

When the draw-bars of a car are swung out, as when the car passes over a curved portion of the track the body of the cars-a swings outwardly in the direction of the outside of the track curve. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated the movement of the body of the car takes place in a manner and to an extent such that the longitudinal axis of the car frame indicated by dotanddash line in Figure forms a tangent tothe center line 'i of the track. Due to the dili'crence in the position of the pivotal axes Z) and e of the truclnand draw bar, nespectivelyflvhen said bar isturned, asduring the passage of the car over a curved section of track the axle is moved to a the .track.

position radially of the curve of A rod 71. is connected at its terminals at m to the trucks and, 111 the case of an end car,

.it positively effects adjustment of the rear "truck which is not coupled to an adjacent longitudinal axis of the car.

It is obvious from Fig. 3 that the radial position of the truck-wheel axles in all curved tracks is ensured, when the fixing point- (1 lies over the centre of the axle (Z and Z), (3 equal to e, g is chosen.

It is also obvious from Fig. 3 that the radial position of the truclcwheel axles in all curved tracks is ensured, when 7), (2 equalling 7), 7c is chosen, 7c representing the middle between the two truck-wheel axles.

Fig. 3 also shows that the radial position of the truck-wheel axles is ensured in all curved tracks, when the length 6, 0-Z of the drawbar equals e-Ja, whereby it again represents the centre between the two trucks.

Fig. 3 shows further that if the above measurements are observed, there is nothing to prevent the insertion at point A: of a third, non-swingable wheel-axle between the two trucks, which, under the abovementioned circumstances, always remains in a radial position. v j r The single-axle truck may, for instance, in the case of electrically driven motor-cars with axle-motors or with cardan drive be formed by the motor-shell itself or by the cardan-shaft pole.

What I claim as new is: p 7 a 1. Ina track vehicle, a vehicle frame,

trucks pivoted at their inner ends to the vehicle frame, each truck being provided with a wheel axle, and a draw bar for each truck pivoted to the vehicle frame above the cor- 1 p responding truckean'd pivotally connected 1 with the latter whereby to'efiiect swing ng out of the vehicle frame towards the outer edge of-track 'curves and adjustment of'the f trucks to dispose the wheel axles radially with respect to said curves.

2. A track vehicle as claimed in claim 1,"

characterized in that the pivotal axis of the draw bar islocated above the truck axle at a point equidistant from the-pivotal axis of the truck and thepoint of connection between thedraw bar and the truck'during the nor nial position of the latter. I 1 1 3.. A, track vehicle as claimed inl'claim 1', characterized in that the distancev between the pivotal connections of the respective trucks and the frame is twice the distance r between the pivotal axis of .each individual truck and the pivotalaxis of the draw bar associated therewith. V

4. A track vehicle as claimed in, claim 1,

characterized in that the; total length of the. v

' draw bar is equal-to thesum of the distance between thepoints of pivotal connectionof the draw bar and the truck with the-frame and one-half the distance between the pivotal connections between: the respective trucks and the vehicle frame;

-, HERMANNJLIECHTY/ S7igned at Bern, this 3d day of September, 192 

